Electric coin meter and clock



Deco 20 194-9 F. J. LANDGRAF ET AL. 2,493,817

ELECTRIC COIN METER AND CLOCK Filed Sept. 16, 1949 2 Shets-Sheet 1INVENTORS.

FRANCIS J. LANDGRAF RICHARD P. LANDGRAFI f wy.

AGENT Dec. 20, 1949 F. .1. LANDGRAF ET AL.

ELECTRIC COINMETER AND CLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1949INVENTORS.

FRANCIS J. LANDGRAF RICHARD P. LANDGRAF AGENT Patented Dec. 20, 1949UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC COIN METER AND CLOCK Francis J.Landgraf and Richard P. Landgraf, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 16, 1949, Serial No. 116,146 10 Claims. (01.194-9) The present invention relates generally to time controllingmechanisms, and more particularly to time controlling mechanismsoperation of which is initiated in response to deposit of a check in acontainer.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide amechanism for controlling the operative condition of an electricalswitch for predetermined periods of time, and in response to deposit ofa check or coin in a suitable receptacle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel andsimplified mechanism for measuring a, predetermined time period inresponse to deposit of a check or coin in a suitable receptacle, and forautomatically depositing the check or coin in a further receptacle atthe termination of the predetermined time interval.

It is another broad object of the present invention to provide amechanism capable of actuation by a conventional clock for measuringpredetermined time intervals initiated by the deposit of a check or coinin a suitable receptacle.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide adevice for closing an electrical circuit in response to deposit of acheck or coin in a suitable receptacle, and for maintaining the circuitin closed condition for a predetermined time interval, and forautomatically accomplishing transfer of the coin to a further receptacleat the termination of the predetermined time interval.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide mechanismfor accomplishing the above stated objects which shall be of simplercharacter, and susceptible of more economical fabrication, than hashitherto been considered feasible in the pertinent art.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a timemeasuring device which may be driven from a continually running clock,and which is entirely mechanical in nature, the time measuring devicebeing operatively coupled to the clock mechanism in response toinsertion of a coin, and the operative connection being automaticallydestroyed at the termination of the predetermined time interval.

The above and still further features, advantages and objects of thepresent invention will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodi ent thereof,especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure l is a view in side sectional elevation taken on the line I-I ofFigure 4, of a structure arranged in accordance with the invention,before the insertion of a coin therein;

Figure 2 is a side section corresponding to Figure l, and illustratingthe position of the mechanical elements of Figure 1 after the insertionof a coin;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view corresponding with certain detailsof Figure l and Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of structure arranged in accordance with theinvention;

Figure 5 is a side-view, taken in a direction opposite to that of Figure1, of apparatus in accordance with the invention, showing particu-"larly details of the coin slot thereof;

Figure 6 is a front elevation complementing Figure 5, and indicatingparticularly mechanism for retaining a coin in the coin slot duringmeasurement of a time interval; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged view corresponding with a portion of Figure 6with certain walls removed, better to indicate internal features of thestructure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the reference numeral Iidentifies a thin metallic panel, which may be secured in any convenientfashion to a conventional clock mech- "which is pivoted about a fixedpin I4 supported z spindle which drives the hour hand H of the clock, orthe minute hand M of the clock, ac-

cording as longer or shorter times are desired.

to be measured by the structure of the invention.

The Wall structure I comprises at its upper edge a bent over horizontalshelf 4, which serves to support an electric switch 5, secured as byscrews 6 to the shelf 4. The switch 5 comprises insulating spacers I,which maintain in spaced relation two parallel metallic leaves 8a and8b, having adjacent electrical contacts 9, which are normally separated.Depending from the lower one of the leaves 8b, is a bracket Ill, whichsupports a roller I I for rotation about suitable bearmgs.

The roller II bears on an end I2 of an arm I3,

by the wall I in any convenient fashion, the pin I4 extending through alongitudinal slot I5 in the arm I3, to enable displacement of thepivotal I point of the arm I3.

Integrally related to the arm I3 is a downwardly and verticallyextending arm I5, which terminates in a further arm l1, extendingforwardly and substantially horizontally, or is parallel to the arm I3.The arm I1 extends through a slot 52 provided in a wall section I9,which is secured in any convenient fashion to the wall I, with the planeof the wall section I9 perpendicular to the plane of the wall I. Thewall sec'-' tion I9 is suitably bent and forms a coin slot 22 having awidth and thickness adequate to" permit entrance of a coin ofpredetermined denomination, as for example, a quar'ter'of a dollar; Thearm IT extends through the slot i8 in the path of any coin, such as C,which might be inserted in the coin slot 20, the coin slot having suchwidth as to accept any' c'oi'n" smaller in size than the size of thequarter dollar but not larger.

The lateral position of the arm IT is such, h-oWever,- that in the eventa coin of denomination smaller than that selected, say a quarter dollar,should be inserted in the coin slot 20, it would fall through betweenthe arm IT and the sidewall of the coin slot Secured to the arm I3, at apoint adjacent to the junction of the arms I3 and I6, and by means ofapivotal connection 21 is arack bar 22 having a plurality of gear teethin its under edge-, which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of the gear2, so that the rack 2-2 may be driven in response to rotation of thegear 2 When the rack-22 and the gear 2 mesh The rack bar 22 is springpressed downwardly by aspring 2 3, which tends to cause the rack bar 22to rotate clockwise, as seen in' Figuremally rests onthe pin in responseto thepressure applied by the spring 23.

When a coin as C is dropped into the coin slot 26,- via anaperture 2 6provided in acasing 21 containing the mechanism ofthe present invention,the weight 0t coin C depresses the arm H, as illustrated in Figure 2 ofthe accompanying drawings, causing the arm: I3 to pivot about the pin Ii, raisi'n'g the rearward edge I2 of the arm I3 against the roller I' I,and thereby flexing the spring leaf 8b upwardly to bringthe' contacts 9into' contact. At the same time the rack bar 22 is carried downwardlybyl tlie arm I3' and into mesh with the gear 2'. The latter may beassumed to be in process or: rotation, and accordingly drives tliea'rm'I3 to the right, as viewed in l igu'ires I and 2' of the drawings. Asthe arm I 3 travels to the right, pressure on the roller I I ismaintained, so that the switch contacts 9 remain closed. At the sametime the arm I1 is gradually withdrawn iro'm under the coin C, againstthe" tension of arrestra'ining spring 28, which may be of helical" form,and one end of which maybe secured to the wall or panel I at 6 thepoint" 29, the other end being secured to the arm I3 as at the pin 25',

Motion of the arm I3 to the right, as viewed in Figure 2 of thedrawings, continues until the arm I! has been withdrawn entirely fromunder the coin C. When this" occurs, the coin C is released from thecoin' slot' 2U, and falls through an aperture in the casing 21-.Simultaneously, since no downwardly exertedforce is now available fordepressing the arm H, the latter rises,

being impelled to rise by the pressure exerted thereon by the roller I Iin response to the spring leaf 6b. The rack bar 22 is thus removed frommeshing relation with the gear 2, and the spring 23 serves to draw thearm I3 into its original position, as illustrated in Figure 1 of theaccompanying drawings, preparatory to a further operation of themechanism.

It may occur that when the rack bar 22 is depressed in response to theweight of the coin C,

tive teeth of the rack bar 22 and the gear 2 will be in immediatelyadjacent and opposing relation.

In such case, the rack bar 22 pivots about the slot.

pivot point 2|, the spring 23, giving, and the slot 24 riding up on thepin 25'. Thereby the rearward end- I2- ofthe arm I 3 is enabled to riseto the same extent in response to the weight of the coin C, as-iftheteeth of the rack bar 22 and the gear 2 were in proper mesh, thereby toeffectcomplete closure of the switch points 9. When thisoccurs, asillustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, continued rotation of the gear2; results almost ii'r'imediately in proper alignment withthe rack bar22 to effect proper meshing of the teeth of thera ck bar 22 with theteeth" of the gear 2,

Referring to Figure 7 of the drawings, it will be seen that the coin Cexerts a wedging efiect on the arm I'I, tending to cause the latter tomove to the right as v'iewed in Figure 7, Since the arm I'Iextendsthrough slot t8 in the wall section I9, the wedging actionof; thecom c has a tendency to causing bingiingpf the arm I! against the wallof the slot To eliminate this eifect a roller bearing 30 is provided,which may be mounted between brackets 3 I struck out from the wallsection I9, and which serves to take the pressure of the arm- I1,rotating as the arm I7 is withdrawn in response to rotation of the gear2 while the rack bar 22 is in mesh therewith.

In order to prevent unauthorized removal of a coin C fromthe coin slot20,- once it has been inserted therein, a spring member 32 is-provided,which is secured at one end- 33 tothe outer wall of the coin slot 20,and which at its lower end- 34 extends slightly within the confines ofthe coin When a coirr isinserted in the coin slot it brushes by the end34 ofthe spring rod 32, the latter being sufiiciently resilient to" givein response to the weight of the coin. After the coinC has passed theend 34 of the spring rod 32 the latter springs bac-k into position withits end overthe coin C;- as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, retainingthe later" against unauthorized removal from the com siot 20'; as byturning the mechanism upside down;

Various modes of appiicatitn of the present inventiorr will suggestthemselves" to those skilled in the aft; For example, the switch 5 maybe utilized to control times of operation of television or radioreceivers, washing machines, re-' rrigerators or the like; the cloclgrunning continuously, the sw'itclr operation being timed by the cloclkAlternatively, theclock may be an electric clock, and r'rierely perform"the functions of an electric motor, being connected in series with theswitch contacts and with a power supply line. The clock hands ifutilized, win then measure elapsed time" during" which the circuit isclosed, rather thantiue time. It will further be clear that for a clock,as a drive means, may be substituted other types of motive means, andrunning atuniform. or non-uniform speed. While the invention finds itsmaximum application in con. junction with coin controlled devices,checks simulating coins may obviously be employed in place of coins; Thestructure may be employed to measure a variety of desired timeintervals, by suitable selection of the physical dimensions of the arm Hwhich extends into the coin chute, or by providing stops (not shown) tolimit'the extent of travel of the arm I! into the coin chute.

, While we have described a single specific and preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it will be evident to those skilled in the art thatcertain variations of detail and general arrangement thereof may beresorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters; Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A time switch including, switch contacts, a coin chute for receivinga coin, an arm comprising an arm section extending into said coin chutefor actuation by the weight of said coin, means supporting said arm forpivotal motion in response to said actuation of said arm section, meansresponsive to pivotal motion of said arm for operating said switchcontacts, a motor, a pinion driven by said motor, a rack secured to saidarm, said rack positioned normally out of actuable engagement with saidpinion and to be engaged with said pinion in response to said pivotalmotion, said rack arranged to withdraw said arm section from within saidchute when driven by said pinion.

2 Coin controlled mechanism, including, a coin chute having a widthbetween edges only adequate to receive a coin of first predetermineddiameter, an arm extending into said coin chute adjacent one edgethereof, the distance between the other edge and said arm beingsuificient to enable ready passage of coins of smaller predetermineddiameters and to stop'coins of said first predetermined diameter, andtime controlled means for withdrawing said arm from said coin chute at apredetermined time after insertion into said coin chute of a coin ofsaid first predetermined diameter, said last means comprising a pinionand means for driving said pinion at a uniform rate of rotation, a racknormally out of engagement with said pinion, means responsive tostoppage of said coin of predetermined diameter in said coin chute bysaid arm for effecting driving engagement of said rack and pinion, andmeans responsive to predetermined motion of said rack in response tosaid pinion for withdrawing said arm from said coin chute.

3. Coin controlled mechanism, including, a coin chute having a widthbetween edges only adequate to receive a coin of first predetermineddiameter, an arm extending into said coin chute adjacent one edgethereof, the distance between the other edge and said arm beingsufiicient to enable ready passage of coins of smaller predetermineddiameters and to stop coins of said first predetermined diameter, timecontrolled means for withdrawing said arm from said coin chute at apredetermined time after insertion into said coin chute of a coin ofsaid first predetermined diameter, said last means comprising a pinionand means for driving said pinion at a uniform rate of rotation, a racknormally out of engagement with said pinion, means responsive tostoppage of said coin of first predetermined diameter in said coin chuteby said arm for effecting driving engagement of said rack and pinion,meansby said timing motor, a rack secured to said arm;

means normally maintaining said rack out of geared engagement with saidpinion, means mounting said rack for movement by said arm in response tothe weight of a coin in said coin chute and resting on said arm, intogeared engagement with said pinion, rotation of said pinion actuatingsaid rack to move said arm out of said coin chute.

5. A check controlled device comprising a chute for a check, an armnormally extending into said chute in the path of a check and movableout of said chute to release said check, a motor, a pinion rotated bysaid motor, a rack secured to said arm, means normally maintaining saidrack out of geared engagement with said pinion, means mounting said rackfor movement in response to the weight of said check on said arm intogeared engagement with said pinion, rotation of said pinion actuatingsaid rack during said geared engagement to move said arm out of saidchute, thereby to release said check.

6. A check controlled device comprising, a chute for a check, a pinion,means for rotating said pinion, a rack, means mounting said rack formovement into and out of geared engagement with said pinion, resilientmeans normally maintaining said rack and pinion out of gearedengagement, and an arm secured to said rack for movement of said rackinto said geared engagement in response to the Weight of said check,said arm extending into said chute in the path of said check.

7. A check controlled device comprising, a chute for a check, a pinion,means for rotating said pinion, a rack, means mounting said rack formovement into and out of geared engagement with said pinion, resilientmeans normally main taining said rack and pinion out of said gearedengagement, means responsive only to the weight of said check foreffecting and maintaining said geared engagement, said last meanscomprising an arm extending into said chute in the path of said check,and means responsive to motion of said rack in response to rotation ofsaid pinion for withdrawing said arm from said chute.

8. A check controlled timer, comprising, a chute for a check, a pinion,clock means for rotating said pinion, a rack, means mounting said rackfor movement into and out of geared engagement with said pinion, aresilient element normally in one operative condition and normallymaintaining said rack and pinion out of geared engagement by itsresilience, means responsive only to the weight of said check forovercoming said resilience and efiecting and maintaining said gearedengagement, said last means comprising an arm extending into said chutein the path of said check, and means responsive to predetermined motionof said rack in response to rotation of said pinion for withdrawing saidarm from said chute.

9. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination 'Of 'a switch havinga movable contact e1 ementin a first-positioma rotary pinion, a movablerack adapted to 'efferit a traverse from a starting position uponengagement with said rotary pinion during rotation-ofsaid pinion, checkcontrolled mechanism for simultaneously moving said contact element toasecond position and for shifting said rack into geared engagementwithsaid pinion and for maintaining said rackin said geared engagement,and means for automatically restoring said rack to said startingposition and for simultaneously restoring said movable contact elementto said first position in response to predetermined movement of saidrack from said starting position in response to rotation of said rotarypinion.

10. The combination in accordance with claim 9 wherein said checkcontrolled mechanism is responsive solely to the weight of said check.

FRANCIS J. LA-NDGRAF. RICHARD P. LANDGRAF.

8 REFERENCES CITED following references are of f'eco'r'd in the fil' Ofthis Daitlit! ilN I TED STA TE S PAEENT

